Dr Robert Lewis, was said to have touched one woman's breasts as if he was "polishing headlights"

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A GP groped the breasts of ambulance and fire brigade recruits during occupational health examinations - a court has heard.

Dr Robert Lewis, 51, was said to have touched one woman's breasts as if he was "polishing headlights".

Another allegedly said he was like a 14 year old boy "grabbing his first pair of boobs," Luton Crown Court was told.

Lewis of Northbridge Street, Shefford denies five charges of indecent assault and three charges of sexual assault, involving six women between 1999 and 2007.

Prosecutor Mark Fenhalls QC told the court the offences took place at the Larksfield Surgery at Stotfold, near Hitchin during occupational health examinations for women applying to join the ambulance and fire service.

He said: "The assaults were subtle and carefully designed to avoid detection. He was taking advantage of young women who were desperate to pass medicals.

"During some medical examinations, he used the pretext of breast and hernia checks to carry out assaults.

"He fondled and groped their breasts and sometimes put his hands in the area of their vaginas."

Opening the case, Mr Fenhalls told the jury of nine men and three women that in November last year a jury had acquitted the doctor of many other allegations, could not decide on some and had found him guilty of a few.

He said this trial involved some of the allegations from the previous case, but also new complainants who had come forward since then.

Luton Crown Court (Image: Googlemaps)

Mr Fenhalls said the doctor faces a charge of putting his hand in her knickers during one examination.

A second woman alleges he put his hand down her knickers and carried out a "breast examination as if he was polishing headlights."

A third claims he "cupped" her vaginal area and a fourth described the doctor touching her breasts as if he were a "14-year-old boy grabbing his first pair of boobs."

Another claims he got her to bend over while he pulled out a tape measure and touched her bottom.

The last allegations relate to August 2007 when the doctor is alleged to have behaved inappropriately during a breast and hernia examination.

When questioned by the police in January 2013, the doctor denied indecently assaulting any patients, saying he always explained what he was doing and would get the patient's consent.